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German Hand & Rifle Grenades
Bulletin No. 59, March 7, 1944
[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from a U.S. wartime publication on enemy ordnance. As with all wartime material, the text may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the original contents. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]


H.E. Cartridge for 27 mm (1 in.) Grenade Pistol
Sprengpatrone für Kampfpistole

Data

Overall length       3 inches.
Color       Unpainted aluminum.
Weight of complete round       5 ounces.
Weight of projectile       3-1/2 ozs.
Filler       PETN/Wax.
Weight of filler       339 grams.
Propellant       Graphited black powder.

Description

This grenade consists of a die cast aluminum container which encases a steel tube containing the explosive. The fuze screws to the steel tube and the tube and aluminum container are secured by knurling and indents. The propellant charge is contained in a cup which has a push fit to the grenade with 10 holes in the cup to lead the gases to the base of the grenade.

The grenade has 5 grooves making one quarter turn in the length of the projectile, grooved on the aluminum body. The steel liner is threaded internally to take a nose percussion fuze. The explosive filler consists of two penthrite wax pellets separated by cardboard discs.

The fuze is a direct action type and is fitted with a protruding striker head. The striker is held away from the primer by six steel balls which rest in a groove in the striker and on a platform of the fuze. These balls are kept in position by a steel collar which is supported on three aluminum pins. There is also a creep spring between the striker and the primer. Beneath the primer there is a gaine contained in en aluminum case and consisting of Lead Azide and Lead Styphnate in the upper part and PETN in the lower part. Between the gaine and the main filling there is an empty air space.

The discharge cup is a push fit with the base of the grenade which is turned down to fit into the cup. The cup has in its base a Lead Styphnate primer contained in a brass holder. Forward of the cap is the propelling charge of black powder and 10 holes to lead the gases to the base of the grenade.

Operation

On firing, the propelling charge propels the grenade and it rotates because of the rifling on the body. On setback the collar in the fuze moves back crushing the aluminum pins and because of centrifugal force the balls then fly outward, freeing the striker which is kept off the primer by the creep spring. On impact, the striker impinges the primer setting off the gaine and main filler.

[German H.E. Cartridge for 27 mm (1 in.) Grenade Pistol: Sprengpatrone fur Kampfpistole]

 


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